ozonefriendly

Ozonefriendly is an adjective used to describe substances, products, or practices that are designed to avoid depleting the ozone layer in the stratosphere. In common usage, it denotes zero or negligible ozone depletion potential and aligns with substitutions intended to replace ozone-depleting substances.

The concept arose from concerns about ozone depletion identified in the late 20th century, linked to chlorofluorocarbons and other halogenated compounds. International agreements such as the Montreal Protocol and its amendments have driven the phase-out of many ozone-depleting substances and encouraged the development of alternatives. Substitutes increasingly labeled as ozonefriendly commonly include zero-odp refrigerants, solvents, and blowing agents, as well as natural refrigerants and newer synthetic options with lower or zero ozone impact.

In practice, ozonefriendly is largely a marketing and labeling term rather than a formal regulatory designation in many regions. It is used on aerosols, refrigerants, foams, and cleaning products to signal that the substance or product is intended to pose less risk to the ozone layer. However, zero ozone depletion potential does not guarantee overall environmental safety, and such substances may still have significant global warming potential or other environmental impacts. Consumers should consider multiple environmental attributes beyond ozone impact when evaluating products.

See also: ozone layer, ozone depletion potential, Montreal Protocol, ozone-friendly labeling.